REESE   LIBRARY 


I    UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


MJT 


A 
VINTAGE 

OF 
VERSE 


CLKRENCE  URMY 


A 

VINT 
AGE 
OF 

VERSE 


VRMY 


DOXEY 


A  VINTAGE  OF  VERSE 


A  VINTAGE  OF  VERSE 


BY 
CLARENCE    URMY 

AUTHOR  OF 
"A  ROSARY  OF  RHYME" 


WILLIAM   DOXEY 

AT  THE  SIGN   OF  THE  LARK 

SAN   FRANCISCO 

I897 


Copyright,  1897 
William  Doxey 


Five  hundred  copies  printed 


The  Doxey  Press 


TO    MABEL 


So  one  in  heart  and  thought,  I  trow, 
That  thou  mightst  press  the  strings  and 

I  might  draw  the  bow, 
And  both  would  meet  in  music  sweet, 

Thou  and  I,  I  trow. 

—SIDNEY  LANIER. 


CONTENTS 

I.  FROM  VINE-CLAD  HILLS:  Page 

The  Golden  Gate 13 

(The  Illustrated  American.) 

In  the  Foothills 15 

(The  Overland  Monthly  ) 

Morning  in  the  Sierras       .        .        .        .  17 
(The  Cosmopolitan  Magazine.) 

Santa  Clara  Valley 18 

Dream  Voices 20 

Napa  Revisited 32 

In  the  Santa  Cruz  Mountains    ...  24 

(The  Cosmopolitan  Magazine.) 

With  a  Calendar 25 

Among  the  Belmont  Hills         ...        27 

(The  Overland  Monthly.) 

Approach  of  Night 29 

(The  Cosmopolitan  Magazine.) 

O'erlooking  the  Sea 30 

An  Easter  Wish 32 

California '  34 

(The  Land  of  Sunshine.) 

As  I  Came  Down  Mount  Tamalpais         .        35 


CONTENTS 

FROM  VINE-CLAD  HILLS  —  Continued.  page 

Twilight  in  Livermore  Valley    ...        37 
(The  Overland  Monthly.) 

Reverie 39 

Night  in  the  Redwoods      .        .        .        .        41 
(The  Century  Magazine.) 

Lavender 43 

(Munsey's  Magazine.) 

At  the  Edge  of  the  Day   • .        .        .        .        44 

(The  Youth's  Companion.) 

II.  TREADING  THE  WINE-PRESS: 

Nocturne 49 

The  Three  Missions 51 

(The  Youth's  Companion.) 

Remembrance 53 

(The  Overland  Monthly.) 

A  Watch  in  the  Night        ....        55 

(The  Independent.) 

Along  a  Path  in  Paradise  ....        57 

(The  Youth's  Companion.) 

Weights  and  Measures       ....        58 
(Munsey's  Magazine.) 

The  Judgment- Book 59 

(Munsey's  Magazine.) 

The  Arrow 60 

The  Old  Year 61 

The  Fire  of  Fate 62 

8 


CONTENTS 

TREADING  THE  WINE-PRESS — Continued.  page 

Ghosts 64 

(Lippincott's  Magazine.) 

Sorrow  and  Solace 65 

A  Song  of  Hope 66 

A  Golden  Day 68 

(The  Peterson  Magazine.) 

A  Song  of  Triumph  .....        69 
(The  Youth's  Companion.) 

Love's  Loyalty 71 

Ante  Mortem 72 

(Lippincott's  Magazine.) 

The  Songs  I  Sang  for  You        ...        73 

(Munsey's  Magazine.) 

A  Poet's  Epitaph 75 

(Lippincott's  Magazine.) 

Love  and  Doubt 76 

Stubble 78 

A  Dream  of  Death    .        .        .        .  79 

(Lippincott's  Magazine.) 

III.  WITH  LAUGH  AND  SONG: 

Al  Fresco 83 

(The  Overland  Monthly.) 

A  Chat  with  Dick 86 

Told  to  a  Child 87 

(The  Independent.) 


CONTENTS 

WITH  LAUGH  AND  SONG — Continued.  page 

Down  the  Lane         .....  89 

(The  Cosmopolitan  Magazine.) 

Boatman's  Song 90 

Rosita 92 

My  Heart  to  Thee  Is  Singing    ...  95 

Reconciliation 97 

(Munsey's  Magazine.) 

To  a  Singer 99 

(Lippincott's  Magazine.) 

My  Love  for  You 100 

The  Temple  Scene  in  "  Aida"  .        .        .102 

(The  Overland  Monthly.) 

Ties 104 

To  Hazel 106 

A  Dream  Tale 108 

Piano  Solo 109 

(The  Overland  Monthly.) 

To  My  Blotting- Pad in 

The  Wild  Grass 112 

(The  Monthly  Illustrator.) 

To  the  Moon 113 

You 114 

(The  Youth's  Companion.) 

Three  Songs  of  Love        .        .        .        .116 

(Munsey's  Magazine.) 

Mabel's  Eyes 118 


TO 


FROM    VINE -CLAD    HILLS 


THE  GOLDEN  GATE 

WAVE- WASHED  by  that  quiescent  sea 

Balboa  sighted  rapturously, 

And  fanned  by  winds  replete  with  lore 

From  Orient  and  Arctic  shore, 

It  stands,  a  door  unique  and  quaint, 

Saint  Francis  for  its  patron  saint — 

The  open  sesame  to  bowers 

Of  far-famed  sunshine,  fruit,  and  flowers, 

The  portal  to  a  wide  expanse 

Whose  very  name  exhales  romance. 

From  north,  from  south,  a  streamlet  flows 
From  sheltered  vales  of  vine  and  rose; 
While  larger  rivers  gleaming  stray 
Through  golden  wheat- fields  to  the  bay; 
Broad  pathways  lead  to  land  of  pine, 
Or  land  where  orange-boughs  entwine; 

13 


THE    GOLDEN    GATE 

To  slopes  where  grape  and  olive  grow, 
Or  far  heights  of  eternal  snow  — 
A  country  peerless,  wondrous,  great, 
And  guarded  by  a  golden  gate. 

When  Twilight,  Eve's  fond  alchemist, 
Weaves  arabesques  in  amethyst, 
The  land  about  the  gateway  teems 
With  shadows,  reveries,  and  dreams  — 
The  phantom  shadows  of  white  sails 
Blown  hitherward  by  halcyon  gales  — 
The  dulcet  reveries  that  throng 
With  Mission  bells  and  vesper  song — 
The  dreams  where  Joy  and  Peace  enfold 
The  happy  Argonauts  and  gold. 


IN    THE    FOOTHILLS 

HERE  lie  the  wooded  slopes  that  dreamers  love, 
Low,  rolling  hills,  with  purple  peaks  above, 
And  filled  with  hidden  haunts  and  dusky  dells, 
Where  Daphne  roams  and  tender  Fancy  dwells. 

Through  shady  thickets,  dark  with  tangled  vine, 
Shy  clusters  of  sweet,  wilding  berries  shine; 
And  birds  that  through  the  leafy  tree-tops  dart 
Wake  answering  music  in  the  Dreamer's  heart. 

From  some  deep  spring,  hid  in  some  silent  nook, 
Babbles  across  a  field  a  bubbling  brook, 
Then  through  the  canon  softly  slides  and  slips 
Where  Echo  stands  with  finger  on  her  lips. 

Across  and  in  and  out  wind  wavering  trails 
Among  the  glimmering  glens  and  twilight  dales, 


IN    THE     FOOTHILLS 

And  homeward  herd-bells  spice  the  dewy  air 
With  thoughts  of  even-song  and  vesper  prayer. 

Here  lies  the  Dreamer's  Bethel  —  skies  unfold, 
Light  ladders  lean  from  lands  of  sunset  gold, 
Fair  souls  of  fantasy  descend  to  earth 
And  find  within  his  happy  heart  a  birth. 


16 


MORNING   IN   THE   SIERRAS 

ABOVE  me  rise  the  snowy  peaks 

Where  golden  sunbeams  gleam  and  quiver,. 
And  far  below,  toward  Golden  Gate, 

O'er  golden  sand  flows  Yuba  River. 

Through  crystal  air  the  mountain  mist 
Floats  far  beyond  yon  distant  eagle, 

And  swift  o'er  crag  and  hill  and  vale 

Steps  Morning,  purple-robed  and  regal, 

The  while  a  breeze  through  canons  deep 
Sets  all  the  tall  tree-tops  in  motion, 

Bearing  a  greeting  to  the  pines 

From  palms  beside  the  Southern  ocean. 


SANTA   CLARA  VALLEY 
(NEAR  SAN  JOSE) 

To  NORTH  the  waving  tule  skirts  the  bay, — 
No  fairer  bay  e'er  graced  as  fair  a  land, — 

And  o'er  its  ripples  down  the  valley  stray 
Soft  zephyrs  redolent  of  sea-swept  sand. 

To  south  a  reach  of  meadow,  farm,  and  lane, 
With  peaceful  herds  and  flocks  in  sweet  repose, 

Fair  Ceres  guarding  fields  of  yellow  grain, 
And  cottages  entwined  with  vine  and  rose. 

To  west  Pomona's  fair  and  fruitful  land, 

Vineyard  and  orchard  stretching  mile  on  mile, 

Where  Learning,  Health,  and  Peace,  a  chosen 

band, 
Bask  in  the  golden  light  of  Fortune's  smile. 

18 


SANTA    CLARA    VALLEY 

To  east  a  purple  peak  with  clouds  impearled, 
A  royal  road  that  winding  leads  afar 

Unto  a  Mecca  of  the  Western  world  — 
The  giant  eye  that  scans  the  distant  star. 

Here  in  this  land  with  milk  and  honey  stored, 
O  weary  wanderer,  stay  thy  pilgrim  feet! 

This  is  the  land  of  promise  and  reward, — 

O  rest  thee  here,  and  make  life's  sunset  sweet! 


DREAM  VOICES 

ALL  day  long  sweet  zephyr-fingers 
Touch  the  wind-harp's  silver  strings; 

Bird  and  bee,  and  brook  and  blossom 
Understand  the  song  it  sings. 

All  night  long  star- voices  whisper 

In  the  garden  of  the  sky; 
Spray  and  nest,  and  lake  and  lily 

Catch  the  echoes  floating  by. 

But  the  busy  world,  unheeding, 

Hears  no  sweetness  in  the  air; 

Toil  and  care,  and  pain  and  sorrow 

Drown  the  voices  everywhere. 

Dreamers,  only,  stop  to  listen; 

Something  says:   "Be  still  and  hark  ! " 

20 


DREAM   VOICES 

Something,  as  the  sound  of  ripples 
Kissing  sea-sands  in  the  dark, 

Perfume  as  of  rose  still  folded, 
Sound  as  of  a  brook  at  night, 

Dusky  shadows  as  of  swallows 

Through  the  gloaming  taking  flight. 

Thus  the  Dreamer  hears,  and  hearing, 
Strives  to  set  his  voice  in  tune — 

O  the  songs  beyond  his  grasping, 

Heard  beneath  the  mellow  moon !  — 

Songs  he  fain  would  be  repeating, 

Though  the  sweetness  half  be  fled, — 

Songs  denied  unto  the  Living, 
Are  they  granted  to  the  Dead  ? 


21 


NAPA  REVISITED 

FAIR  Valley!     Rich  with  memories, 

Filled  to  the  brim  with  happy  dreams, — 
The  dreams  and  memories  that  float 

Like  flowers  adown  Life's  sunny  streams, 
And,  drifting  through  the  harbor  gate, 

Sail  out  across  the  sobbing  sea, 
Fading  nor  sinking,  till  they  reach 

The  haven-land,  Eternity. 

How  fond,  how  dear,  how  memory-fraught 

Thy  dells  and  dales,  thy  slopes  and  hills, 
When  daylight  o'er,  the  yellow  sun 

Fills  all  the  sky  with  daffodils! 
While  dew-wet  gardens,  scented  deep, 

Where  roses  with  the  violets  vie, 
Look  up  with  sweetest  smile  to  greet 

The  angel  gardens  in  the  sky. 

22 


NAPA    REVISITED 

The  very  air  is  rife  with  dreams; 

The  lute  of  love  and  lyre  of  light 
Pour  forth  in  never-ceasing  strains 

Fair  flowers  of  song  that  know  no  blight; 
While  poet-harps  grown  strangely  dumb 

Awake  in  this  enchanted  land, 
And  melodies  that  glad  the  heart 

Fall  from  the  Poet's  trembling  hand. 

This  is  the  finis,  this  the  end 

Of  search  for  Summer's  lotos-land, 
(Up  from  the  south  come  cooling  winds 

That  lately  kissed  the  sea- wet  sand). 
And  I,  with  head  bared  to  the  breeze, 

Would  fain  find  here  my  earthly  rest, 
Like  to  a  weary  child  that  lays 

Its  head  upon  its  mother's  breast. 


IN  THE  SANTA  CRUZ  MOUNTAINS 

HIGH  on  a  towering  peak,  I  look 

Across  the  twilight  bay; 
Here  Santa  Cruz  is  nestling  low, 

And  there  lies  Monterey. 

Far,  far  beyond,  the  breakers  white 
Wreathe  Cypress  Point  with  snow, 

Till  dreams  and  darkness  weave  a  veil 
O'er  all  the  scene  below. 

The  last  low  sheep-bell  softly  says 
"  Good-night! "  from  some  far  fold, 

And  swiftly  from  the  lighthouse  dim 
Gleams  forth  a  torch  of  gold. 


WITH   A  CALENDAR 

You  know  the  promise  that  you  made 
Under  the  linden's  leafy  shade, 

When  high  above  a  lark  sang  clear, 
And  in  my  hand  your  hand  you  laid  — 

You  know,  you  said, "  Some  day  next  year! " 
Accept  this  calendar,  dear  maid, 

'Twill  help  you  choose  that  day  so  dear! 
Here  all  the  seasons  stand  arrayed, 

Dark  days,  bright  days,  days  far,  days  near; 
Days  when  the  corn  is  in  the  blade, 

Days  when  the  corn  is  in  the  ear; 
Days  when  green  grass  is  in  the  glade, 

Days  when  the  grass  is  brown  and  sere; 
Days  when  sweet  April's  fingers  braid 

A  dewy  wreath  of  smile  and  tear; 
Days  when  moons  of  September  fade 

In  yellow  glory  on  the  mere  — 


WITH   A   CALENDAR 

In  fact,  I '  m  not  at  all  afraid 

But  that  you  '11  find  each  day  is  here! 
On  which  day  shall  Love's  debt  be  paid? 
You  know  the  promise  that  you  made 
Under  the  linden's  leafy  shade! 


26 


AMONG  THE  BELMONT  HILLS 

TOWARD  twilight-time  we  slowly  pass 

Along  a  road  whose  winding  turns 
Are  decked  with  dainty  wildwood  flowers, 

With  trailing  vines  and  graceful  ferns; 
Along  a  rail-fence  runs  a  quail, 

A  bluebird  darts  amid  the  trees, 
And  cow-bell  echoes,  dimly  heard, 

Are  wafted  on  the  evening  breeze. 

Beside  the  edge  of  Crystal  Lake 

We  watch  the  June  sun  slowly  fall, 
While  o'er  the  mountain  creeps  the  fog, 

Like  white  smoke  thro'  the  redwoods  tall: 
The  waters,  rippled  by  the  wind, 

In  pearl-tipped  wavelets  kiss  the  shore, 
And  Fancy  catches  dreamy  hints 

Of  hillside  tale  and  lakeside  lore. 


27 


AMONG    THE    BELMONT    HILLS 

Oar  way  leads  where  moss-covered  oak, 

Bright  bay,  and  buckeye  charm  the  glade, 
While  through  die  leaves  the  setting  son 

Weaves  arabesques  of  shine  and  shade; 
We  pass  die  happy  woodhnd  homes 

That  bask  in  San  Mateo's  smile, 
Where  sunny  slope  and  dusky  deU 

With  dreamful  rest  the  heart  beguile. 


Toward  home  we  swiftly  wend  our  way 
As  San  Leandro's  fights  gleam  out 
Across  the  bfaeness  of  die  bay; — 

A.v>::  :^  tr.ir.c:::'.  p^ihs  ot~  peaoe! 

"Good-night!"  we  say  to  scenes  so  bright, 
And  down  die  cafion's  starlit  slope 

A  woodbird  softly  calk  "Good-night!" 


APPROACH   OF   NIGHT 

BY  the  yellow  in  the  sky, 
Night  is  nigh. 

By  the  murk  on  mead  and  mere, 
Night  is  near. 

By  one  faint  star,  pale  and  wan, 

Night  comes  on. 

By  the  moon,  so  calm  and  clear, 
Night  b  here. 


O'ERLOOKING  THE   SEA 

(  NEAR   SKYLAND  ) 

ACROSS  the  silent  silver  sea 

The  silver  moon  looks  wistfully; 

High  on  the  hills  I  stand  and  gaze 

Across  a  reach  of  firs  and  bays 

And  redwoods  tall  with  moss  o'ergrown, 

Filling  the  canons  dark  and  lone, 

To  where  across  the  silver  sea 

The  silver  moon  looks  wistfully. 

Above  the  silent  silver  sea 
The  silver  stars  beam  tenderly; 
From  twilight-time  till  now  a  bell 
Has  twinkled  in  some  distant  dell, 
And  faint  farm-sounds  the  still  air  fill 
Blown  in  and  out  through  vale  and  hill, 

30 


OVERLOOKING     THE     SEA 

While  far  above  the  silver  sea 
The  silver  stars  beam  tenderly. 

Across  the  silent  silver  sea 

A  silver  sail  drifts  dreamily; 

Up  deep  ravines  the  white  fog  runs  — 

Fair  Amphitrite's  hooded  nuns, — 

Hastening  with  reverent,  holy  air 

To  chant  on  land  a  midnight  prayer — 

While  far  across  the  silver  sea 

A  silver  sail  drifts  dreamily. 


AN   EASTER   WISH 

THE  peace  that  lies  in  ocean  depths 
Unstirred  by  storm  and  wind, 

The  peace  that  distant  snow-white  sails 
In  sunset  harbors  find, 

The  peace  of  summer  clouds  astray 

Be  thine,  this  holy  Easter  Day. 

The  calm  that  wraps  each  leaf  and  spray 

In  shadowy,  flowery  dells, 
The  calm  that  lingers  in  the  air 

When  cease  the  vesper  bells, 
The  calm  of  lily-broidered  ways 
Be  thine,  this  holiest  of  days. 

The  faith  of  Mary  at  the  dawn 
Amid  the  garden  dew, 

32 


AN     EASTER    WISH 


The  hope  that  blossomed  in  the  hearts 

Of  His  disciples  true, 
The  love  that  rolled  the  stone  away 
Be  thine,  this  holy  Easter  Day. 


33 


CALIFORNIA 

A  SLEEPING  beauty,  hammock-swung, 

Beside  the  sunset  sea, 
And  dowered  with  riches,  wheat,  and  oil, 

Vineyard  and  orange-tree; 
Her  hand,  her  heart  to  that  fair  prince, 

Whose  genius  shall  unfold 
With  rarest  art  her  treasured  tales 

Of  life  and  love  and  gold. 


34 


AS  I  CAME  DOWN  MOUNT  TAMALPAIS 

As  I  came  down  Mount  Tamalpais, 

To  north  the  fair  Sonoma  Hills 
Lay  like  a  trembling  thread  of  blue 

Beneath  a  sky  of  daffodils; 
Through  tules  green  a  silver  stream 

Ran  south  to  meet  the  tranquil  bay, 
Whispering  a  dreamy,  tender  tale 

Of  vales  and  valleys  far  away. 

As  I  came  down  Mount  Tamalpais, 

To  south  the  city  brightly  shone, 
Touched  by  the  sunset's  good-night  kiss 

Across  the  golden  ocean  blown; 
I  saw  its  hills,  its  tapering  masts, 

I  almost  heard  its  tramp  and  tread, 
And  saw  against  the  sky  the  cross 

Which  marks  the  City  of  the  Dead. 

35 


AS    I    CAME    DOWN    MOUNT    TAMALPAIS 

As  I  came  down  Mount  Tamalpais 

To  east  San  Pablo's  water  lay, 
Touched  with  a  holy  purple  light, 

The  benediction  of  the  day; 
No  ripple  on  its  twilight  tide, 

No  parting  of  its  evening  veil, 
Save  dimly  in  the  far-off  haze 

One  dreamy,  yellow  sunset  sail. 

As  I  came  down  Mount  Tamalpais, 

To  west  Heaven's  gateway  opened  wide, 
And  through  it,  freighted  with  day-cares, 

The  cloud-ships  floated  with  the  tide; 
Then,  silently  through  stilly  air, 

Starlight  flew  down  from  Paradise, 
Folded  her  silver  wings  and  slept 

Upon  the  slopes  of  Tamalpais. 


TWILIGHT   IN  LIVERMORE  VALLEY 

THE  sun  has  set,  and  evening  skies 
Begin,  like  rosebuds,  to  unfold, 

While  on  the  distant  mountain  top 

Still  linger  faint,  stray  gleams  of  gold, 

Like  kisses  pressed  by  angel  lips, 

Or  touches  of  God's  finger-tips. 

Like  wreaths  of  purple  violets, 
The  hills  around  the  valley  lie, 

And  Mount  Diablo' s  lofty  peak 

Towers  high  into  the  twilight  sky — 

A  stately  sentinel  it  seems, 

Guarding  a  land  of  dusk  and  dreams. 

Up  through  the  western  mountain  pass 
Night-breezes  wander  from  the  bay, 

37 


TWILIGHT    IN    LIVERMORE    VALLEY 

And  whisper  tender  Dreamland  tales 

From  sandy  beaches  far  away, 
Where  drifting  dream  and  beaming  star 
Clasp  hands  across  the  harbor  bar. 

Hesper  unveils  her  lovely  face; 

I  hear  a  star- voice  downward  fall 
From  some  dim,  distant  lattice  height 

Above  the  far  cerulean  wall  — 
"Peace!  Peace!"  it  calls,  and  all  is  calm 
Beneath  the  night's  o' ershadowing  palm. 


REVERIE 

COMES  the  perfume  of  a  rose 

From  the  latticed  garden  close 
Of  a  still,  sequestered  nook  in  Paradise, 

And  the  singing  of  a  bird, 

Whose  delicious  notes  are  heard 
In  a  bower  that  in  some  sweet  elysium  lies; 

Come  the  glimmers  of  a  stream, 

Silver  shining  in  a  dream, 
Silver  chain  that  links  the  mountain  to  the 
sea, 

And  the  echoes  vague,  remote, 

That  in  tremulous  fancy  float 
From  that  heaven  where  faint  souls  ever  long 
to  be— 

In  the  echo,  in  the  gleam, 

In  the  song  and  scent  I  seem 
Once  again  the  old-time  life  to  feel  and  know, 

39 


REVERIE 


As  fair  fantasies  of  You, 
Dim  with  dusk  and  damp  with  dew, 
Cluster  round  the  memory  of  long  ago. 


40 


NIGHT   IN  THE   REDWOODS 

THE  eyes  that  all  day  upward  looked  to  feast 
On  sloping  boughs,  nor  yet  at  twilight  ceased, 
Now  see  in  trunk  and  branch,  and  leaf  and  spray 
Diviner  meanings  than  were  felt  by  day  — 
The  trunks  that  tower  high,  look  up  and  out, 
Like  Faith  above  the  undergrowth  of  Doubt; 
The  stately  boughs,  the  sprays  so  far  above, 
Encompass  Faith  with  arms  of  tender  love; 
The  little  leaves  are  servants  fond  and  true, 
Cup-bearers  of  the  summer  sun  and  dew. 
These  giant  limbs,  each  spangled  with  a  star, 
Seem  spirit-steps  to  heavenly  lands  afar, 
And  these  wide-spreading  arms,  held  high  in  air, 
In  quiet  wait  the  answer  to  a  prayer. 
How  still  the  scene!     A  century  of  calm 
Lies  wrapped  within  this  night  of  blissful  balm. 


NIGHT   IN   THE   REDWOODS 

All  still,  save  in  the  soul  a  breath,  a  call, 
A  thrill  that  holds  the  heart  in  solemn  thrall, 
One  swelling  pulse,  one  mighty  undertone  — 
God's  voice  down  through  the  redwood  branches 
blown. 


LAVENDER 

A  GATHERER  of  lavender, 

When  all  his  work  was  o'er, 
Fell  fast  asleep  in  slumber  deep 

Upon  his  fragrant  store; 
And  as  the  scent  with  fancy  blent 

Charmed  Sleep's  fair  silver  streams, 
This  gatherer  of  lavender 

Went  gathering  fragrant  dreams. 


AT  THE   EDGE   OF  THE   DAY 

SEE  Twilight  standing  on  the  brink 
That  skirts  the  dark  abyss  of  night; 

The  dew-wet  roses  in  her  hair 

Shed  incense  through  the  waning  light, 

Low  in  the  west  one  lonely  star 
Shines  tremulous  and  white. 

Across  the  far,  dim  edge  of  day, 

The  task  of  morn  and  toil  of  noon 

Slip  noiselessly  adown  the  tide 

With  dusky  shadows  thickly  strewn, 

And  o'er  the  lately  purple  hills 
Rises  the  yellow  moon. 

Go,  Twilight,  trembling  on  the  verge 
'Twixt  shadowy  earth  and  shadowy  air, 

44 


AT    THE    EDGE    OF    THE    DAY 

Fold  peaceful  hands  on  peaceful  breast, 
Spread  starlit  wings  and  gently  bear 

To  Heaven's  gate  a  burden  sweet  — 
The  World's  low  vesper  prayer. 


45 


TREADING    THE    WINE-PRESS 


NOCTURNE 

ALONG  the  river  bank  I  stray, 

About  the  time  of  dusk  and  dew; 

The  river  ripples  to  the  bay, 

My  thoughts  flow  down  the  stream  to  you. 

To  you,  upon  the  silver  sands 
That  girt  the  twilight-tinted  sea, 

From  him  who  stands  with  outstretched  hands,. 
Gazing  to  seaward  wistfully. 

Among  the  reeds  the  ripples  sing 
A  little  song,  half-sweet,  half-sad, 

While  I,  with  tear-voiced  whispering, 
Bid  it  for  thy  dear  sake  be  glad. 

I  would  that  distance  were  not  wide, 

That  Fate  might  whisper  low  and  sweet:. 


49 


NOCTURNE 

* '  Set  sail  adown  the  trembling  tide, 
And  anchor  at  the  loved  one's  feet!  " 

Fate  standeth  mute.  And  so  my  prayers, 
Like  roses  on  the  river's  breast, 

Float  seaward;  —  may  thy  tears  and  cares 
Be  soothed  by  sleep,  and  peace,  and  rest! 

The  hour  grows  late.   Through  meadows  fair 
The  river  flows  toward  rest  and  thee 

Meeting  the  sea-sand  close  to  where 
A  star  is  sinking  to  the  sea. 


THE  THREE   MISSIONS 

THREE  spirits  met  in  upper  realms  of  air, 

On  earthly  missions  sent, 
One  robed  in  deepest  sable,  one  in  white, 

One  white  and  sable  blent. 


The  white-robed  spirit  broke  the  silence:    "Lo! 

A  child  is  born  this  night; 
With  joy  I  haste  to  place  a  snow-white  soul 

Within  its  bosom  white ! ' ' 


"Sister,"  the  gray-robed  spirit  whispered,  "fast 

I  follow  after  thee — 
With  cords  of  fate  and  mingled  rose  and  rue, 

I  weave  a  destiny!" 


THE   THREE    MISSIONS 


Up  spake  the  third:  "  Hear  ye!  in  one  short  hour 

Vanish  both  soul  and  spell, 
I  go  to  ring  for  mother  and  for  child 

A  funeral  knell!" 


REMEMBRANCE 

A  POET  sings:    " The  winds  of  Fate 

Sweep  coldly  through  Life's  open  gate, 

And  leaf  of  laurel  and  of  rose, 

Each  into  Death's  dark  valley  goes." 

Yet  sometimes  up  from  that  sad  vale 

To  lifeward  blows  a  timid  gale 

That  wafts  the  scent  of  faded  flowers 

Into  these  lonesome  lives  of  ours; 

For  just  last  night,  when  wearily 

The  gold  moon  sank  into  the  sea, 

And  angel  faces  in  the  stars 

Peered  earthward  through  the  silver  bars, 

I,  looking  out  across  the  night, 

Heard  echoes  from  a  far-off  height, 

A  long-lost  voice — my  Mother  dear!  — 

Singing  in  some  dim,  distant  sphere, 


53 


REMEMBRANCE 


While  o'er  my  senses  stole  a  scent 
Of  one  white  rose  with  jasmine  blent, 
The  rose  I  laid  upon  her  breast 
The  day  she  entered  into  rest. 


54 


A  WATCH   IN  THE   NIGHT 

OPPRESSED  by  something  in  my  troubled 
I,  with  a  moan,  awoke  in  deep  despair — 

Was  it  some  daytime  duty  left  undone, 
Or  was  it  some  forgotten  kiss  or  prayer  ? 


Something  it  was  that  made  my  pillow  hard, 
Something  my  heart  around  or  soul  within 

I  rose  and  looked  across  a  night  as  dark, 
Yes,  darker,  than  the  fearful  face  of  Sin! 


Close,  close  at  hand  a  midnight  taper  burned  — 
I  knew  it  for  the  lamp  of  my  fierce  foe; 

I  leaned  far  out — he  could  not  help  but  hear: 
' '  Friend,  I  forgive  thee  every  hurt  and  blow ! ' ' 


55 


A  WATCH    IN   THE   NIGHT 

Down  on  my  knees  I  fell  and  prayed  for  him 
Who  wrong  had  done  me  many  times  and  oft; 

And  as  a  star  shone  through  a  rifted  cloud, 

I  sought  my  couch  and  found  the  pillow  soft! 


5-5 


UNJ 


ALONG  A  PATH    IN  PARADISE 

ALONG  a  path  in  Paradise 
Two  sad-eyed  angels  went; 

At  Heaven's  gate  they  downward  sped, 
On  earthly  missions  sent. 

That  night  two  mortal  enemies, 
In  prayers  of  anguish  born, 

Vowed  to  the  other  pardon  full 
Upon  the  morrow  morn. 

Along  a  path  in  Paradise 

Two  angels  passed,  glad-eyed; 

One  bore  a  broken  heart  of  hate, 
And  one  a  heart  of  pride. 


57 


WEIGHTS   AND    MEASURES 

THE  heaviness  of  earth  and  air, 

The  force  of  passing  breeze, 
The  weight  of  crowns,  and  ships,  and  worlds- 

I  wonder  not  at  these. 
I  see  the  awful  griefs  and  pains 

That  faint  souls  undergo, 
And  wonder  how  the  human  heart 

Can  bear  such  weight  of  woe. 

The  measurement  of  time  and  space, 

The  depth  of  deepest  seas, 
The  distance  of  the  faintest  star — 

I  marvel  not  at  these. 
The  measure  that  I  marvel  at, 

All  measurement  above, 
Is  this  —  the  wondrous  height  and  depth 

And  length  and  breadth  of  Love! 

58 


THE  JUDGMENT-BOOK 

THE  Book  was  opened!    Men  in  wonder  stood! 
No  record  kept  of  wrong!     It  told  of  good! 
Each  deed  of  love!     A  Soul  crept  up  in  fright, 
Then  passed  into  the  dark  —  his  page  was  white! 


59 


THE   ARROW 

STRAIGHT  from  a  mighty  bow  this  truth  is 

driven : 
"They  fail,  and  they  alone,  who  have  not 

striven." 

Fly  far,  O  shaft  of  light!  all  doubt  redeem 
ing; 

Rouse  men  from  dull  despair  and  idle 
dreaming. 

High  Heaven's  evangel  be,  gospel  God- 
given  : 

"They  fail,  and  they  alone,  who  have  not 
striven. ' ' 


60 


THE  OLD  YEAR 

WHAT  is  the  old  year?     JT  is  a  book 
On  which  we  backward  sadly  look, 
Not  willing  quite  to  see  it  close — 
For  leaves  of  violet  and  rose 
Within  its  heart  are  thickly  strewn, 
Marking  Love's  dawn  and  golden  noon; 
And  turned-down  pages,  noting  days 
Dimly  recalled  through  Memory's  haze; 
And  tear-stained  pages,  too,  that  tell 
Of  starless  nights  and  mournful  knell 
Of  bells  that  toll  through  troubled  air 
The  De  Profundis  of  despair; 
The  laugh,  the  tear,  the  shine,  the  shade, 
All  'twixt  the  covers  gently  laid, 
No  uncut  leaves,  no  page  unscanned — 
Close  it  and  lay  it  in  God's  hand. 


61 


THE   FIRE   OF   FATE 

THE  fire  of  Fate  blazed  high  one  day 
And  marked  me  for  its  prey; 

With  red-hot  tongue  it  scorched  my  soul, 
And  burned  fair  hopes  away. 

Across  my  heart  a  firebrand  fell, 

As  from  the  hearth  of  Hell, 
And  left  a  wound  whose  stinging  smart 

No  human  tongue  could  tell. 

Adown  the  weary  Lane  of  Years, 
With  sighs  and  anxious  fears, 

I  bear  my  sin-seared  heart  and  soul 
Unto  the  Gate  of  Tears, 

Hoping  that  some  fair  angel's  wing 
O'er  me  its  shade  will  fling, 

62 


THE   FIRE   OF   FATE 

While  to  the  Cross  of  Calvary 
With  trembling  hands  I  cling, 

Praying  that  I  His  face  may  greet, 
Since  through  Fate's  fiery  heat 

He  too  did  pass,  with  riven  side 
And  pierced  hands  and  feet. 


GHOSTS 

THREE  ghosts  there  are  that  haunt  the  heart 

Whate'er  the  hour  may  be — 
The  ghost  called  Life,  the  ghost  called  Death, 

The  ghost  called  Memory. 


SORROW  AND    SOLACE 

AN  awful  grief  o'erwhelmed  my  soul; 

From  friend  and  priest  I  fled  — 
I  scorned  their  speech,  refused  relief; 

Would  not  be  comforted. 

An  angel,  softly  whispering  "Peace!" 

Crept  closely  to  my  side; 
But  no  —  my  wild,  rebellious  pain 

Would  not  be  pacified. 

But  O,  the  spell,  so  strange,  so  sweet, 
Between  my  heart  and  thine, 

That  soothed  my  woe  the  moment  that 
Your  eyes  and  lips  met  mine! 


A  GOLDEN   DAY 

A  SUN  of  suns  crept  up  to  greet 

A  day  from  all  days  set  apart 
A  golden  glow  o'er  all  the  world, 

A  golden  hope  within  my  heart; 
A  hope  that  blossomed  like  a  flower, 

As  morn  expanded  into  noon, 
Then  faded  in  the  twilight  dim, 

And  died  beneath  the  yellow  moon. 

O,  not  until  the  morrow's  sun 

Proclaimed  my  day  and  night  far  fled, 

Could  I  believe  that  Faith  was  false, 

That  Love  was  cold  and  Hope  lay  dead. 

And  yet  how  fair  and  bright  it  shone, 
My  golden  Hope  that  turned  to  clay !  — 

Tho'  years  have  passed,  down  Life's  gray  sky 
Still  shines  my  golden  yesterday. 

68 


A  SONG   OF  TRIUMPH 

TO-DAY  I  sing  a  victor-strain, 

A  hymn  of  praise, — 
A  canticle  of  joyous  sound 

I  upward  raise. 

From  boughs  that  thickly  overhang 

The  battle-field, 
I  pluck  fair  laurel  leaves  with  which 

To  deck  my  shield. 

My  spear  and  helmet,  too,  I  twine 

With  leaves  of  bay, 
In  token  of  my  victory 

In  furious  fray 

Yet  no  man's  blood  bestains  my  mail, 
And,  what  is  best, 


A   SONG   OF   TRIUMPH 

No  ghastly  face  nor  dying  moan 
Disturbs  my  rest. 

To-day,  between  Heaven's  holy  hill 

And  Hell's  dark  pit, 
I  met  a  Sin  that  tempted  me, 

And  conquered  it. 


70 


LOVE'S    LOYALTY 

I  OFFERED  you  a  goblet  filled 

With  wine  so  richly  red; 
Deep  in  my  soul  I  pledged   a  toast: 

"  The  day  on  which  we  wed! " 

You  drank  the  wine,  and  straightway  dashed 

The  goblet  at  my  feet; 
With  mocking  laugh  that  echoes  yet, 

You  sought  the  crowded  street. 

And  yet  I  cannot  curse  your  name, 

Forget  your  face  or  form, 
While  to  my  breast  I  press  the  glass 

Touched  by  your  fingers  warm ! 


THE   SONGS   I   SANG   FOR   YOU 

I  wooed  you  for  my  bonnie  bride; 

You  gave  your  heart  and  hand, 
And  forth  we  wandered  arm  in  arm 

Across  the  twilight-land. 

Ill 

I  sang  for  you  one  starless  night — 

My  tears  fell  like  the  rain; 
You  bade  me  sing  "Abide  with  me," — 

I  did  not  end  the  strain ! 
You  closed  your  eyes,  and  lo!  your  ears 

With  angel  music  rang. 
I  wonder  if  you  e'er  recall 

The  earthly  songs  I  sang. 


74 


A   POET'S  EPITAPH 

A  LIFE  with  day-dreams  and  night  visions 

fraught;  — 
But  oh,  the  good  these  dreams  and  visions 

wrought! 


75 


ANTE    MORTEM 

SPARE  not  thy  hand  when  approbation  giving, 
Nor  hold  thy  tongue  till  life  away  has  sped  - 

A  single  word  of  praise  unto  the  Living 
Is  worth  a  panegyric  on  the  Dead. 


72 


THE  SONGS  I  SANG   FOR  YOU 


I 


I  SANG  for  you  one  early  morn 

When  leaves  with  dew  were  wet; 
Tho'  years  have  passed,  that  simple  song 

Rings  in  my  memory  yet. 
I  crowned  you  with  a  diadem 

Of  blossoms  fair  and  sweet, — 
You  were  my  little  Queen  of  Flowers; 

I  lay  low  at  your  feet. 


II 


I  sang  for  you  one  afternoon — 

A  bird  sang  overhead; 
"Your  song  is  far  the  sweeter  song," — 

Those  were  the  words  you  said. 


73 


THE   SONGS   I   SANG   FOR   YOU 

I  wooed  you  for  my  bonnie  bride; 

You  gave  your  heart  and  hand, 
And  forth  we  wandered  arm  in  arm 

Across  the  twilight-land. 

Ill 

I  sang  for  you  one  starless  night — 

My  tears  fell  like  the  rain; 
You  bade  me  sing  "Abide  with  me," — 

I  did  not  end  the  strain! 
You  closed  your  eyes,  and  lo!  your  ears 

With  angel  music  rang. 
I  wonder  if  you  e'er  recall 

The  earthly  songs  I  sang. 


74 


A  POETS  EPITAPH 

A  LIFE  with  day-dreams  and  night  visions 

fraught;—- 
But  oh,  the  good  these  dreams  and  visions 

wrought! 


75 


LOVE   AND    DOUBT 

TO-DAY  into  my  heart  of  hearts 
There  crept  a  tiny  Doubt; 

There  was  no  room  for  Love  and  it 
So  Love  was  driven  out. 


And  oh,  to  think  how  sure  I  was 
Last  night  our  love  was  true, 

And  that  to-day  this  little  Doubt 
Had  bidden  Love  adieu! 


"  No  room  within  for  Love  and  Doubt," 

I  heard  my  sad  heart  say; 
And,  looking  in  your  eyes,  I  knew 

That  Doubt  had  come  to  stay! 


LOVE  AND    DOUBT 


O  for  two  narrow  graves  of  grief, 
That  we  might  lie  therein! 

My  heart  with  all  its  weight  of  woe, 
Your  heart  with  all  its  sin. 


77 


STUBBLE 

GHOST  of  the  vanished  days  when  April  dew 
Lay  on  the  fresh,  sweet-scented  fields; 

Naught  but  the  memory  of  long  ago 
Your  deathly  fragrance  yields. 

Sad  souvenir  of  Springtime's  sapphire  blue, 
Dim  dreamer  of  the  May-time  air, 

To-day  both  you  and  I  look  back  and  say: 
1 '  Past  days  —  how  very  fair! ' ' 


A   DREAM   OF   DEATH 

DEATH  came  to  me  and  said:  "One  day 

Is  given  thee  to  live; 
Ask  what  thou  wilt  for  thy  last  hour 

And  I  that  gift  will  give." 

I  did  not  dare  to  ask  that  I 

Might  claim  a  farewell  kiss; 
I  could  not  bear  to  see  thy  face 

In  such  an  hour  as  this! 

"Grant  me,  O  Death!  a  simple  boon, 

All  other  gifts  above, — 
Grant  me  sweet  sleep,  and  let  me  die 

Dreaming  of  her  I  love! '' 


79 


WITH    LAUGH    AND    SONG 


AL    FRESCO 

I 

COME!     No  longer  wander  this  way, 

Leave  the  dusty  road  beneath  us; 
Let  us  seek  a  purer  bliss-way, 

Where  no  thorns  of  earth  shall  wreathe  us  \ 
Down  the  path  a  bevy  passes, 

Children  with  their  luncheon-pails, 
Mirth  like  flute-notes  in  the  grasses, 

Viol-notes  from  virgin  vales! 
Woo  us  not,  O  Youth,  in  May- time! 

We  have  known  Life' s  rocks  and  billows* 
Sun-tents  now  our  rest  by  daytime, 

Star-shine  round  our  peaceful  pillows  I 
Farewell  now  to  cares  and  sorrows; 

We  are  princes,  priests,  and  kings, 
Pressing  toward  the  glad  to-morrows 

Of  our  woodland  wanderings ! 

83 


AL    FRESCO 

Up  the  steep  slope,  sun-rejoicing, 

Diademed  with  leafy  laurel, — 
Here  's  a  song  that  needs  no  voicing, 

Here  's  a  tale  that  points  no  moral! 
Canticle  and  hymn  and  psalter, 

Graced  with  all  the  greenwood  arts, 
Framed  by  lips  that  never  falter, 

Wafted  to  world-weary  hearts! 

II 

Low  lights  mid  the  buckeyes  playing, 

Guess  at  haunt  of  faun  and  dryad; 
Sea- winds  vesper  Aves  saying, 

Soothe  the  wood-dove's  jeremiad; 
Purple  sunset  shallops  sailing 

To  the  ports  on  Evening's  shore; 
Weird  and  mystic  shadows  veiling 

Chaparral  and  sycamore. 
Hush !     Adown  ravines  and  hollows 

Echo  wanders,  dreamy-sandaled. 

84 


AL    FRESCO 

Look!     A  flight  of  home-bound  swallows 

Flecks  the  sky  by  Twilight  candled. 
Come!     Far  in  the  dusky  forest, 

Let  us  build  a  pyre  to  Pan! 
All  that  grieved  us,  made  us  sorest, 

All  that  bore  a  curse  or  ban, 
In  Oblivion's  volume  file  them  — 

Stinging  gibe  or  cruel  jeering — 
Gayly  on  the  altar  pile  them  — 

Critic's  frown  and  cynic's  sneering! 
See!     The  flames  leap  high  and  higher, — 

Vanish  pains  and  wounds  and  scars! 
Let  us  sleep  with  feet  to  fire, 

Backs  to  earth,  and  eyes  to  stars! 


A   CHAT  WITH   DICK 

A  CHAT  with  Dick!     When  winds  are  high, 

And  pelting  rains  rush  rudely  by, 

Or  else  in  sweeter  scenes  than  these, 
When  stars  peep  through  the  locust-trees, 

And  Summer  winds  are  soft  and  shy! 

Let  men  for  gold  and  silver  vie, 
Let  men  for  laurels  live  and  die, — 

I  '11  choose  for  my  part,  if  you  please, 
A  chat  with  Dick! 

O  Fortune!  drain  my  rivers  dry, 
Send  blinding  tears,  and  cloud  my  sky; 

Take  happiness  and  wealth  and  ease; 

Lock  Pleasure's  doors  and  lose  the  keys, — 
All  this,  and  more,  but  don' t  deny 
A  chat  with  Dick! 


86 


TOLD  TO   A  CHILD 

Do  YOU  know  the  fairy  measure — 
Lilting  measure  that  they  dance  to 
When  the  moon  is  in  the  crescent 

And  the  busy  world  is  still, — 
When  each  sprite  and  fay  and  fairy 
Steps  from  out  the  rose  and  lily 
And  goes  tripping  to  the  woodland 

Just  behind  the  purple  hill  ? 

Have  you  seen  the  pearls  and  laces, 
And  the  fans  bedecked  with  jewels  ? 
Have  you  caught  the  sheen  of  diamonds 

And  the  gowns  so  rich  and  rare, 
As  the  fairies  swing  and  circle 
Round  a  harebell  hung  with  glow-worms, 
While  the  crickets  in  the  heather 

Sing  a  glad  and  joyous  air? 

87 


' 
UNIV: 


TOLD   TO   A   CHILD 

Have  you  heard  the  happy  laughter 
When  the  fairy  dance  is  over 
And  the  golden  moon  is  sinking 

In  a  sea  of  amber  dye  ? 
Have  you  heard  the  "Good-night"  wafted 
From  the  roses  and  the  lilies  ? 
Have  you  heard  the  good-night  kisses 

Blown  across  the  shadowy  sky? 

Is  it  so — you  have  not  seen  them  ? 
Can  it  be  you  have  not  heard  them  — 
Never  caught  the  fairy  measure 

On  a  starlit  Summer  night? 
And  you  say  there  are  no  fairies? 
And  you  don't  believe  my  story? 
Well!     It  must  be  that  I  dreamed  it 

'Neath  the  new  moon's  crescent  light! 


88 


DOWN  THE   LANE 

FAR  down  the  lane  as  eye  can  reach, 

The  hedges  are  aglow 
With  roses  red  and  roses  pink 

And  roses  white  as  snow; 
For  'tis  the  rose-month,  queen  of  months, 

June  odors  in  the  air, 
And  Phyllis  wanders  down  the  lane 

With  roses  in  her  hair 

And  I  —  I  am  a  little  bird 

Perched  on  an  alder  spray; 
I  look  across  the  field  and  see 

Some  one  not  far  away: 
I  watch  them  both,  till  at  the  stile 

They  meet — and  then  think  best 
To  turn  my  head  away  and  sing, 

And  let  you  guess  the  rest! 


BOATMAN'S   SONG 

FLY,  fly  my  boat,  across  the  sea! 

The  sun  is  on  the  wane, 
The  last  beams  linger  wistfully 

Upon  the  steeple  vane  — 
The  reapers  are  leaving  the  fields  of  grain, 
And  a  face  is  pressed  on  the  window-pane. 

Fly,  fly  my  boat,  across  the  sea! 
Dim  shadows  veil  the  strand, 
And  twilight  hues  glide  hazily 
Across  the  sea  and  sand,  — 
But  I  see  a  form  on  the  nearing  land, 
Looking  this  way  with  a  shading  hand. 

Fly,  fly  my  boat,  across  the  sea! 
Leave  wind  and  wave  and  roar; 


90 


BOATMAN'S  SONG 

The  time  has  come  for  you  and  me 

To  lay  aside  the  oar — 
There  is  rest  for  thee  on  the  peaceful  shore, 
And  a  kiss  for  me  at  the  open  door. 


ROSITA 


HERE'S  a  sart^of  sweet  Rosita, 

She  is  the  fairest! 
Of  the  maidens  in  the  village 

She  is  the  queen! 
When  she  wanders  in  the  garden, 

'Mid  all  the  flowers, 
She's  the  sweetest  and  the  rarest  rose 
That  ever  was  seen ! 
In  the  dancing, 
So  entrancing, 
When,  so  sadly, 
Then,  so  gladly, 
Castanet  and  gay  guitar 
Keep  time  for  tripping  feet  — 


92 


ROSITA 

Oh, 
Of  the  charms  of  sweet  Rosita, 

I  could  be  singing 
From  the  dawn  of  golden  morning 

Till  day-beams  depart! 
But  e'en  then  her  charms  I  could  not 

One  half  be  telling  — 
Little  Rose  of  love  and  beauty, 

The  queen  of  my  heart! 


II 


Lovely  eyes  has  my  Rosita 

And  jet-black  tresses; 
And  her  voice!     It  is  the  sweetest 

That  ever  was  heard! 
Oft  at  eve  I  seek  her  cottage, 

Then  I  call  softly; 
Quickly  down  the  little  garden  path, 

She  flies  like  a  bird! 


93 


ROSITA 

In  the  gloaming, 
Sweetly  roaming, 
Where  the  lime-trees 
Scent  the  night-breeze, — 
How  I  love  to  hear  her  sing 
The  songs  of  sunny  Spain! 

Oh, 
Of  the  charms  of  sweet  Rosita, 

I  could  be  singing 
From  the  dawn  of  golden  morning 

Till  day-beams  depart! 
But  e'en  then  her  charms  I  could  not 

One  half  be  telling  — 
Little  Rose  of  love  and  beauty, 
The  queen  of  my  heart! 


94 


MY  HEART  TO  THEE   IS  SINGING 


I 


WHEN  dew  bediamonds  leaf  and  spray, 

And  sprinkles  reeds  and  sedges, 
And  all  the  east  a  ruby  glows, 

With  opals  round  the  edges; 
When  violets  ope  their  dreamy  eyes 

And  larks  are  skyward  winging, 
The  while  my  thoughts  fly  o'er  the  sea, 

My  heart  to  thee  is  singing: 

O  Love,  tho'  Fate  part  hands  and  lips, 
And  thou  dost  shine  afar; 

From  dawn  to  dusk  thou  art  my  sun, 
From  dusk  to  dawn  my  star! 


95 


MY    HEART   TO   THEE    IS   SINGING 


II 


When  birds  and  roses  fall  asleep 

Amid  the  hawthorn  hedges; 
When  vales  grow  dark  and  hills  grow  blue, 

With  gold  and  crimson  edges; 
When  one  pale  star  unveils  its  face, 

And  vesper  bells  are  ringing, 
The  while  my  thoughts  fly  o'er  the  sea, 

My  heart  to  thee  is  singing: 

O  Love,  tho'  Fate  part  hands  and  lips, 
And  thou  dost  shine  afar, 

From  dawn  to  dusk  thou  art  my  sun, 
From  dusk  to  dawn  my  star! 


RECONCILIATION 


I  SOMETIMES  wonder  when  and  how 

You  will  come  back  to  me  — 
Across  what  stretch  of  burning  sand, 

Across  what  sobbing  sea  — 
What  word  will  break  the  silence  long 

That  now  sweet  speech  denies, 
And  what  will  be  the  tale  that  each 

Reads  in  the  other's  eyes. 


II 


Will  floods  of  sunshine,  golden  fair, 
Across  our  pathway  flow, 

Or  will  our  souls  in  rapture  meet 
Beneath  the  starlight's  glow? 


97 


RECONCILIATION 

Will  flowers  bloom,  birds  sweetly  sing, 

To  welcome  in  the  day, 
Or  will  dead  leaves  be  blown  across 

A  sky  of  tearful  gray? 

Ill 

Let  it  be  soon!     Come  as  it  may, 

Enough  there  is  of  pain 
Without  the  added  weight  of  woe, 

If  love  like  ours  were  slain. 
Come  back  to  life  and  hope  and  joy  — 

These  arms  are  open  wide! 
Come  back  and  find  our  early  love, 

Thorn-crowned,  but  sanctified! 


TO   A   SINGER 

THOU  hast  the  gift  of  gifts!     Go  seek  for  bliss 
In  far,  strange  lands,  through  long  and  weary 
years, 

Thou  wilt  not  find  a  greater  boon  than  this  — 
The  power  to  move  thy  listeners  to  tears. 


99 


MY   LOVE   FOR  YOU 

I 

HARD  it  is  to  tell  when  love  begins  — 
All  the  birds  are  singing,  when  love  begins; 
Hearts  that  find  the  treasure 
Know  no  bound  or  measure, 
Life  is  naught  but  pleasure, 

When  love  begins! 

I  know  a  love  that  has  no  beginning  or  ending, 
Like  April  fair,  sunshine  and  shadow  blending; 
Chaste  as  the  snow  and  pure  as  the  heavenly  blue, 
No  other  love  can  ever  compare  with  my  love 
for  you! 


II 


Easy  't  is  to  tell  when  love  is  o'er — 

Birds  are  no  more  singing  when  love  is  o'er; 


100 


MY   LOVE   FOR   YOU 

Hearts  that  lose  the  treasure 
Know  full  well  its  measure, 
Life  hath  naught  of  pleasure, 

When  love  is  o'er! 

I  know  a  love  that  has  no  beginning  or  ending; 
Like  April  fair,  sunshine  and  shadow  blending; 
Chaste  as  the  snow  and  pure  as  the  heavenly  blue, 
No  other  love  can  ever  compare  with  my  love 
for  you! 


101 


THE  TEMPLE   SCENE   IN  "AIDA" 

PRAISE,  incense,  prayer,  and  deepest  adoration, 
(Pink  water-lilies  on  the  mystic  Nile,) 

Uplifted  hands  and  eyes  and  incantation, 
(Deserted  deserts,  stretching  mile  on  mile\ 


Weird  music  from  the  inner  temple  rising, 
(A  camel  dark  against  a  distant  sky,) 

The  altar  spread  for  holy  sacrificing, 

(An  Afric  wind  that  passes  with  a  sigh). 


The  notes  of  harp  and  timbrel,  sounds  entrancing, 
(A  light  gazelle,  by  palm-trees  halfway  hid, ) 

The  priestesses  in  slow  and  solemn  dancing, 
(A  dim,  white  moon  above  a  pyramid). 

102 


Loud  parting  chorus  to  the  mighty  Isis, 

(A  blood-red  sun  that  slowly  seaward  sinks,) 

The  air  deep-filled  with  mystery  and  spices, 
(Egyptian  darkness  and  the  silent  Sphinx). 


103 


TIES 


THE  dawn-light  heeds  the  call  of  Day, 
Hope  wreathes  the  prison  bars, 

Dream-angels  watch  where  children  pray, 
And  Twilight  woos  the  stars. 


The  river  seeks  the  silvery  foam, 
Sea-ripples  kiss  the  sand, 

And  evening  sails  fly  swiftly  home 
To  greet  a  beckoning  hand. 


And  yet,  dear  one,  this  happy  thought 

Pervades  the  song  I  sing, 
Like  some  sweet  benediction  caught 

From  some  bright  seraph's  wing — 

104 


TIES 


The  strongest  ties  that  Nature  knows, 

I  care  not  what  they  be, 
Are  but  as  naught  compared  with  those 

Which  bind  my  heart  to  thee! 


105 


TO   HAZEL 

YES,  Hazel,  I'm  in  love  with  you, — 

E'en  you  the  fact  will  not  dispute; 
Else  why  should  Cupid  bid  me  sing 

The  while  he  strikes  his  soft-toned  lute  ? 
And  you  love  me?     Why  should  I  ask? 

Although  your  lips  you  close  — 
The  south  wind  does  not  need  to  speak 

To  tell  it  loves  the  rose! 

O  Hazel  dear!  this  day  is  blest! 

The  light  of  your  blue  eyes  and  mine 
Has  blended  in  a  fadeless  star 

No  other  star  shall  e'er  outshine; 
Your  smile  has  poured  a  golden  flood 

Of  sunshine  on  my  heart, 
And  never  will  our  warm  hand-clasp 

From  memory  depart! 

106 


TO    HAZEL 

Can  I  forget  your  eyes,  your  smile, 

The  pressure  of  your  tiny  hand  ? 
No!     Sooner  bird  forget  its  mate, 

Or  sea  forget  the  silver  sand! 
And  yet  I  should  not  be  surprised 

To  see  your  love  grow  cold — 
(Don't  judge  her  harshly,  reader,  for 

She's  only  nine  months  old!) 


107 


A   DREAM   TALE 

THE  dim  dream-gatherers  one  night 

Drew  near  my  bed; 
I  felt  them  pass  their  dew-wet  hands 

Across  my  head. 
I  caught  the  smell  of  salt  sea  brine; 

I  heard  them  say: 
"White  sails  and  precious  freight  be  thine  ! ' 

Then  it  was  day. 

I  wondered  what  the  dream  could  mean  — 

What  ship  ?     What  freight  ? 
With  eager  eyes,  I  sat  and  watched 

The  harbor  gate; 
At  golden  noon  that  very  day 

My  dream  came  true  — 
Love's  white-winged  ship  sailed  up  the  bay 

And  brought  me  You' 

108 


PIANO    SOLO 

As  UP  and  down  the  ivory  keys 
Her  slender  fingers  go, 

I  hear  the  rustle  of  a  breeze, 

I  hear  a  brooklet  faintly  flow — 

As  up  and  down  the  ivory  keys 
Her  slender  fingers  go. 

As  up  and  down  her  fingers  go 

Across  the  ivory  keys, 
I  hear  a  whisper,  soft  and  low, 

Like  hum  of  honey-laden  bees 
As  up  and  down  her  fingers  go 

Across  the  ivory  keys. 

As  up  and  down  the  ivory  keys 
Her  slender  fingers  go, 

109 


PIANO   SOLO 

I  see  white  sails  on  Summer  seas, 

Touched  by  the  sunset's  golden  glow  — 

As  up  and  down  the  ivory  keys 
Her  slender  fingers  go. 

As  up  and  down  her  fingers  go 

Across  the  ivory  keys, 
Dim  dreams  glide  gently  to  and  fro, 

Like  night- winds  'mid  the  poplar  trees  — 
As  up  and  down  her  fingers  go 

Across  the  ivory  keys. 

As  up  and  down  the  ivory  keys 

Her  slender  fingers  go, 
Sweet  Slumber,  wooed  by  sounds  like  these, 

Presses  my  weary  eyelids  low  — 
As  up  and  down  the  ivory  keys 

Her  slender  fingers  go. 


TO  MY  BLOTTING-PAD 

MY  blotting-pad!     Dear  friend,  to  thee 
I  owe  the  boon  of  sympathy! 
For  in  this  world  where  taunt  and  jeer 
Ring  loudly  on  the  Dreamer's  ear, 
And  where  the  Rhymester's  tuneful  art 
Is  trampled  in  the  busy  mart, 
Where  verse  and  song  and  flowery  speech 
Lie  stranded  on  Fate's  barren  beach  — 
From  out  the  chaos  of  despair 
Thou  steppest  forth  with  friendly  air, 
And  as  the  thoughts  flow  from  the  pen, 
Before  they  reach  the  eyes  of  men, 
Thou  dost  bestow  on  them  and  this 
The  benediction  of  a  kiss! 


in 


THE  WILD   GRASS 

I  HEARD  the  wild  grass,  grieving,  sigh 
Because  the  reapers  passed  it  by: 
"For  me  no  sickle's  happy  whirr, 
No  jocund  song  of  harvester, 
No  high-heaped  wains  that  plenty  bring, 
No  joys  of  autumn  garnering." 
"  But  if  thou  hadst  not  grown,"  I  said, 
"  No  sheep  would  on  the  hills  have  fed; 
And  if  no  sheep  had  come  this  way, 
No  shepherd  would  have  piped  his  lay; 
And  if  no  lay  sweet  love  confess, 
There  surely  were  no  shepherdess; 
And  if  no  shepherdess  forlorn, 
The  kiss  and  vow  had  ne'er  been  born! " 
A  glad  thrill  thro'  the  dry  grass  spread: 
"  I  wish  them  joy,"  it  softly  said. 


112 


TO   THE   MOON 

O  DREAM-BOAT!  gliding  through  the  starry  sea,, 
Touching  with  silver  light  the  willow-tree 

That  waves  in  silence  o'er  my  sweetheart's  cot, 
Seek  not  too  soon  thy  haven  o'er  the  hill, 
But  fondly  creep  across  her  window-sill, 

And  enter  in  where  I,  alas,  dare  not! 

Let  one  dear  ray  fall  on  her  bosom  white, 
While  from  my  mandolin  with  fingers  light 

I  draw  a  tender  tune  oft  heard  by  thee — 
Not  loud  enough  her  slumber  soft  to  break, 
And  yet  just  clear  and  sweet  enough  to  make 

Her  dreaming  heart  dream  one  sweet  dream 
of  me! 


YOU 


"  The  chief  want  in  life  is  somebody  who  shall 
make  us  do  the  best  we  can."— EMERSON. 


A  FLASH!     You  came  into  my  life, 

And  lo,  adown  the  years 
Rainbows  of  promise  stretched  across 

The  sky  grown  gray  with  tears; 
By  day  you  were  my  sun  of  gold, 

By  night  my  silver  moon  — 
I  could  not  from  the  Father's  hands 

Have  asked  a  greater  boon! 

Life's  turbid  stream  grew  calm  and  clear, 
The  cold  winds  sank  to  rest, 

Hand-clasped  with  you,  no  bitter  pain 
Found  dwelling  in  my  breast; 

I  did  not  dread  Life's  care  and  toil  — 
Your  love  dispelled  all  gloom, — 

114 


YOU 

And  now  on  graves  of  buried  hopes 
The  sweetest  violets  bloom. 

My  every  breath  and  every  thought 

Were  pure  because  of  you  — 
I  had  not  dreamed  that  Heaven  could  be 

So  close  to  mortal  view; 
My  hands  and  feet  were  swift  to  do 

The  good  that  near  them  lay, 
And  in  my  heart  throughout  the  year 

The  joy-bird  sang  each  day. 

A  flash!     You  passed  out  of  my  life — 

No,  no;  your  spirit  still 
Is  sun  and  moon  and  guiding  star 

Through  every  cloud  and  ill; 
As  down  the  rainbowed  years  I  go, 

You  still  are  at  my  side, 
And  some  day  I  shall  stand  with  you 

Among  the  glorified. 


THREE   SONGS   OF   LOVE 

SING  no  sad  song  of  bygone  days, 
Now  veiled  in  memory's  tearful  haze; 
I  would  forget  the  hopes  and  fears 
That  filled  with  pain  the  former  years; 
Those  flowers  are  dead,  those  suns  have  set, 
Those  joys  have  changed  to  vague  regret; 
The  love  I  crave  along  life's  way 
Is  not  the  love  of  yesterday. 

Sing  no  blithe  song  of  time  and  tide 
That  in  some  heavenly  sphere  abide; 
Paint  no  fair  scene  of  coming  bliss 
In  tender  look,  hand-clasp,  and  kiss; 
Those  words  sound  vain  in  ears  like  mine; 
Suns  may  not  rise,  stars  fail  to  shine, 
Birds  may  not  sing  in  boughs  above — 
Oh,  sing  not  of  to-morrow's  love! 

116 


THREE    SONGS    OF    LOVE 

Sing  me  a  song,  a  happy  song, 
Full- voiced,  with  cadence  rich  and  strong;. 
Gather  no  notes  from  olden  themes, 
Nor  from  the  mystic  land  of  dreams; 
But  sing  in  ringing  rune  and  rhyme 
The  rapture  of  the  present  time. 
Go,  past  and  future — sing,  I  pray, 
Of  love  that  lives  and  loves  to-day! 


117 


MABEL'S   EYES 

MABEL'S  eyes  are  oh,  so  blue! 
Just  like  twin  stars  dipped  in  dew, 
Colored  with  the  tint  one  gets 
Only  from  Spring  violets! 
Long  ago,  at  love's  sweet  birth, 
First  I  learned  their  precious  worth, 
And  a  chart  for  seas  and  skies 
Fashioned  out  of  Mabel's  eyes. 

Mabel's  eyes  were  made  to  woo  — 
She  can  utilize  them,  too! 
Bid  me  knight  and  courtier  be, 
Make  a  very  slave  of  me! 
Adoration  they  compel  — 
It  would  never  do  to  tell 
Everything  that  I  surmise 
Gazing  into  Mabel's  eyes! 

118 


MABEL'S  EYES 

Mabel's  eyes  are  oh,  so  true! 
Never  old  and  never  new! 
Beacon  lights  are  they  to  me 
Cruising  on  Life's  troubled  sea; 
Rock  and  reef  and  storm  and  wind 
All  are  quickly  left  behind, 
Sailing  toward  the  port  I  prize  — 
Port  of  Love,  in  Mabel's  eyes! 


119 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA   LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
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expiration  of  loan  period. 


DEC  17  1921 


JUL  5 

..• 


FE628195HU 


Oec3'56TS 
REC'D  LD 

NQV  19  1358 


2 


REG.  C1R.  MW  l  0  '76 


50m-7,'16 


